So, I just got my first tenure-line teaching job at the age of 47. Ask me

[smoogatz]

anything.

[AwakeAtLast]

1. Congrats! Where abouts?

:bounce: :hi: :bounce:

[smoogatz]

3. Thanks!

University of Wisconsin system--but not the big school in Madison. Nice town, the six months of the year it's not winter.

[undeterred]

10. Which town?

:hi:

[Esra Star]

2. How many in the line?

[smoogatz]

7. Confusing question.

You mean, like a conga line?

[Esra Star]

12. No, a teaching line, like in the OP

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Are they hiring still?

[smoogatz]

8. They will be in a year or two--

several retirements coming down the pike.

[Taverner]

5. No q - just a hearty congrats

tenure track posts are hard to come by

[smoogatz]

9. Thanks!

They are, indeed. Especially in my field, for pale penis people like me.

[liontamer]

6. congrats!

what field are you in?

[smoogatz]

11. Creative writing, poetry.

But I can also teach comp, American lit, CW fiction, CW creative nonfiction, and basket-weaving. Okay, not basket-weaving.

[Strawman]

13. That's great! Congrats!

:applause:

[smoogatz]

25. Thanks!

[bridgit]

14. are congrat'z in order?

cause here they are :toast:

[smoogatz]

20. They are--and thank you. n/t

[DebJ]

15. Congratulations and thanks for posting that.

I am 51 and just now completing my college education to be a social science high school teacher. I still have three more semesters. So this makes ME feel good!

[smoogatz]

19. Good for you! It's never too late.

The bad news is, I was on the job-market off and on since 1997. But that's college-level, in a very specialized field in which there are maybe 200-300 qualified candidates chasing 20 or so jobs every year. Good high school teachers in always in demand.

[HereSince1628]

16. Congrats and Good Luck.

And if you can spare an old academic the opportunity to give you some advise. If you've taught before you may already know this, but it's about how to get over the first hurdle toward tenure.

Remember, if your colleagues don't like you, you will never be judged to meet the criteria for tenure. Remember the first hurdle is hidden and it's not what you know but how you get along. It's hard to address adequately every tenure criterion a college throws at you. Almost everyone has one area that could be criticized. But if you have friends they'll defend your tenure application and argue your strengths outweigh whatever weakness you most fear. If you've made opponents otherwise meaningless things can be made to blossom into a case for denial.

Have fun, for a teaching spirit teaching is always more fun than anything. Yes, more than _that_ too!

[smoogatz]

21. Thanks for the word-up.

Good advice--much appreciated.

[MassLiberal]

17. congrats!

I'm working on my dissertation at the age of 47, so I know what yer talkin' 'bout. You deserve major kudos!

[smoogatz]

22. Thanks. You too!

Keep plugging away--I'm a lowly MFA, myself.

[smoogatz]

23. Dupe.

Sorry.

[bigwillq]

18. Good for you!

Congrats! :toast:

What grade do you teach?

[smoogatz]

24. College level.

The job's at a state university here in Wisconsin. Not the flagship school, but we still get some interesting students, and there are opportunities to grow and improve the program I'm in.

[eppur_se_muova]

26. Thanks for posting. I'll be 47 in two weeks, been looking for tenure-track since '99.